Number nine no reason for PSU to cheer


                                         another one of Spanier's failures

Penn State president Rodney Erickson deserves credit for something positive: The ranking for the best party school in the U.S. has Penn State dropping to ninth after rising to number one and two under previous president Graham Spanier. 

This is really a black mark for any of these schools that appear on this list. In fact, instead of the PSU trustees arguing about whether or not JoePa's statue should be placed somewhere on campus or arguing about any other Sandusky-related issue, Penn State should address this one. It was a problem when I was there a few decades ago, and from all I hear, it is much worse now than it ever was in the Seventies or Sixties. 

What happened the night of the firing of Joe Paterno is an example of that. While it may have been heartfelt anger felt by most of those students when they took to the streets in Nov. 2011, the ones who overturned WTAJ's truck and engaged in destructive behavior that night were no doubt fueled by alcohol. 

In addition, what happened to the PSU cheerleader who fell 39 feet out of a window last Oct. at an off-campus should cause everyone at Penn State to consider instituting a tougher alcohol abuse stance. The young woman is returning to campus in the fall, but she has serious mobility issues. 

Addressing this is not an easy task, but the problem at PSU is serious. The incoming president will have to confront what Spanier failed to effectively address in his 16 years as president.

In addition, the Big Ten should review its dubious distinction of having the number 1 party school this year, along with four schools in the top 10. This list is not a plus for that conference.
Top Party School 2014: Princeton Review
1. Iowa
2. Cal-Santa Barbara
3. Illinois
4. West Virginia
5. Syracuse
6. Florida
7. Ohio U
8. Wisconsin-Madison
9. Penn State
10. Lehigh
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/08/05/top-party-schools-2013-14_n_3707912.html?utm_hp_ref=mostpopular

On a more positive note, the Washington Post has a list of the top 20 party schools along with those who earned the most sober distinction (one Pa. school on that).

http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/a-list-of-the-top-20-party-schools-in-the-us-according-to-the-princeton-reviews-2013-list/2013/08/05/950e581e-fdf9-11e2-8294-0ee5075b840d_story.html


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